Mailbox supporting apparatus



Dec. 6, 1960 B. l.. WILSON MAILBox SUPPORTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 2, 1959 FIG.

INVENToR. BYRON L. wlLsoN ,Am Mal/MLM FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1960 B. L. WILSON MAILBox SUPPORTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 2, 1959 FIG. 7

INVENTOR. BYRON L. WILSON BY ,5 @,MYMM

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 2,963,168 MAlLBoX SUPPORTING APPARATUS Byron L. Wilson, 3164 W. Union Road, Bay City, Mich.

Filed Nov. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 850,167

9 Claims. (Cl. 211-107) This invention pertains to supporting structures and more particularly to apparatus of the kind particularly adapted for supporting one or more rural type m-ailboxes or the like on a single post formed either of wood or metal.

Users of rural mailboxes ordinarily purchase a government approved mailbox and a post and then are confronted with the problem of how to secure the box on the post in a permanent manner. Various forms of brackets and the like have been proposed heretofore, but so far as is known all such devices are adapted for mounting a single mailbox unit on a p ost. Consequently, it is not uncommon in suburban areas where rural type mailboxes are used to encounter a long row of such mailboxes, each of which is supported on its own post. When a large number of post holes must be dug in succession, the previously erected post will prevent the erection of another post closely thereto so it is not at all unusual for the spacing between individual mailboxes to be quite large and the result is that the mailman must move his vehicle repeatedly from post to post. This is a time consuming operation and also subjects the operating parts of the vehicle to unwarranted wear.

Another problem with known devices of the kind in use heretofore is the diiiiculty attendant their being assembled With the mailbox and supporting post. Most of the government `approved mailboxes have a floor section which is recessed from the bottom of the mailbox so as to provide side anges for the reception of a bracket member which, in turn, is adapted to be supported on the post. Not all mailboxes are of the same dimensions, however, so the bracket which would t one size mailbox may not lit another size. Consequently, ahardware or other dealer stocking mailbox supporting brackets, must maintain a large supply of varying size brackets in order to have a complete supply of properly correlated parts.

3 An object of this invention is to provide improved supporting apparatus for mailboxes and the like and which is capable of supporting any size government approved mailbox.

Another object of the invention is to provide mailbox supporting apparatus which is capable of supporting a plurality of mailboxes on the same post.

A further object of lthe invention is to provide mailbox supporting apparatus which is quite simply and easily connected to a mailbox and to its support.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the kind referred to which is economical to manufacture, easy to assemble and rugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

Figure l is a fragmentary view, partly in top plan and partly in section, of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and supporting a pair of mailboxes on a single post; v.

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Figure 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged view of a detail of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3,;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational View of a portion of the supporting apparatus;

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 1 and showing the apparatus mounted on a different kind of supporting post, the mailboxes not being shown; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Apparatus formed in accordance With the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 through 5 comprises a frame 1 formed of a pair of similar channelshaped members 2. Each channel member 2 includes upper and lower flanges 4 and 5, respectively, interconnected by a web 6. Near the midportions, the flanges 4 and 5 are cut away `as at 7, and the webs are provided with a plurality of slots or openings 8 which are vertically spaced from one another. Each frame member 2 is bent intermediate its ends as at 3 in such manner `as to form substantially a V. As the members are bent, the ilanges 4 and 5 on opposite sides of the cuts 7 move towards one another and are placed in overlapping relation. The overlapping iianges 4 and 5 then are secured together by means of rivets 9, welding, or the like. As a result of this construction, each frame member 2 presents substantially a V-shaped appearance with the slotted portions 8 of the webs 6 forming the apex of the V.

The formation of the slots 8 in each of the frame members 2 is vertically offset relatively to the slots in the other member so that when the tapices are presented one to another, the slots of one web will receive the unslotted portions of the other web and together form substantially a piano hinge construction. Means for maintaining the frame members 2 in assembled relation comprises a pin 10 received in the hinged parts and having a head 11 at its upper end to prevent the pin from dropping through the hinge. The lower end of the pin may be tapered as at 12 to facilitate insertion of the pin in the hinge.

At each end of each of the frame members 2 is provided an attaching ange 13 which is formed as a continuation of the web 6 and is bent at such an `angle to the frame member 2 that the flanges 13 at the opposite ends of both members lie in substantially the same plane when the members '2 are in assembled relation. Each attaching flange 13 is equipped with elongated slots 14, the purpose of which will be pointed out hereinafter.

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention is adapted to be supported on either metal or wood posts. Figures 1, 2 `and 3 illustrate means for supporting the bracket on a metal, cylindrical post 15 and such means comprises a generally U-shaped collar 16 having its terminal ends lying next to two adjacent legs of the members 2. It is preferable that the collar 16 be received betweenadjacent legs of separate members 2, rather than between the divergent legs of a single member 2. The reason for this construction will be explained.

T 'he collar 16 preferably is provided with a pair of attaching strips 17 which conveniently may be formed by cutting the collar 16. The strips 17 may be reversely bent so as to lie adjacent to the webs 6 of the two adjacent legs of the members 2 and they may be securedV to the latter by means of bolts 18 and nuts 19. Near the terminal ends of the collar 16 is provided a pair of anchoring devices 20 formed of heavy wire or the like and comprising an intermediate web section 21 bent adjacent to each end at right angles thereto to form a short portion 22 which isv of sufficient length to project through the web 6 of the associated member 2 and the arm of the collar 16. At the point where the portions 22 emerge from the adjacent collar arms, the anchoring device is bent, again at right angles, to form terminal portions 23 which parallel the webs 6 of the adjacent legs of the members 2. The anchoring devices 20 are so con structed as to be' readily removable from the' openings formed in the collar and web portions` merely by rocking the element 2t) as they are being withdrawn.

As is perhaps best illustrated in Figure 1, the terminal portions 23 of the clamping devices 20 are received between the adjacent legs of the pair of members 2 and inwardly of the collar 16. As a result the post 15, when inserted Within the collar 16, will bear against the portions 23 and prevent rockingv of the devices 20 in such manner as to permit their withdrawal. The post 15 is maintained firmly in engagement with the` terminal portions 23 by means of clamping screws A24 which extend through openings formed in the collar 16 and bear against the post 1S. lf desired, the openings in the collar may be threaded, but it is preferable to equip the screws 24 with a lock nut 2S by means of whichthe screws 24 may be maintained in clamping relation. The clamping screws 24 not only prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the anchor devices 20, but also serve to support the bracket member 1 at any selected position of the post 15.

When the parts described thus far are assembled in the manner indicated, the collar 16, the strips 17, and the post 15 cooperate to prevent relative rotation of the respective members 2 about the axis of the pin 10. As a consequence, the members 2 are rigidly maintained in assembled relation and present a substantially X-appearance in plan. I

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7 is similar to the embodiment just described and similar parts are numbered with similar reference characters. The principal difference between the two embodiments is that the construction shown in Figure 6 is adapted to be mounted on a wood post 26 rather than on a metal post. Consequently, the mountingv apparatus used inl the iirst described embodiment may be dispensed with in favor of screws 27 which extend through openings formed in corresponding webs 6 of the respective members 2. In order to provide as rigid a connection between the bracket 1 and the post 26 as is possible, the upper end of the post may be cut away along straight lines as is indicated at 2S so as to present surfaces generally parallel to the adjacent diverging legs between which the post is received. When the bracket 1 is assembled with the post 26, the screws 27 provide a rigid anchoring means to prevent relative rotation of the respective members 2.

The apparatus disclosed herein is adapted for use in conjunction with conventional government approved mailboxes M of the kind including a generally U-shaped housing 30 enclosing a iioor partition 31. The housing walls are provided with extensions 30a which extend below the level of the floor partition 31 and the latter is provided with flanges 31a which nest with and are parallel to the extensions 30a. usually are provided with openings by means of'which the mailbox M may be secured to aV plank or the like located inwardly of the flanges. In the presentl instance, bolts 32 may be extended through the slots 14 in the attaching flanges 13 and through the openings in the ilanges 30a and Sla and through a wall 30. The bolts 32 may receive nuts 33 by means of which the mailbox M may be securely attached to the bracket 1.

As is indicated in Figures 1 and 2, two mailboxes M conveniently may be supported-at the same level on the bracket 1. In addition, a mailbox M may be supported atop the bracket 1, provided the post 15- or 26 does not project above the flanges 4, and for this purpose the anges -4- may be provided with a plurality of openingsv 3'4 by means of which a mailbox may be securely anchored to the upper fianges. Furthermore, each post 15 or 26 may support a plurality of mountingbrackets 1 in verti- The overlying flanges 30a and 31a cally spaced relation whereby a single supporting post may serve as a mount for gangs of mailboxes. Consequently, the mailcarrier is enabled to deliver mail to a large number of boxes while making but a single stop.

The disclosed embodiments are representative of preferred forms of the invention, but are intended to be illustrative rather than deli'nitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

I claim:

l. Support-ing apparatus'or articles such as mailboxes or the like comprising from members separably joined to one another and forming a plurality of legs diverging from a common zone of intersection so as to present substantially an X shape; means on a pair of adjacent legs of separate frame members for securing said frame members to a post adapted to be received between said pair oflegs, said securing means preventing inadvertent separation of said frame members; and attaching means at the divergent ends of said legs adapted for connection to articles to be supported.

2. Supporting apparatus for articles such as -mailboxes or the like comprising separable frame members each havinga plurality of legs and so assembled that all of said legs diverge from a common-zone of intersection; means supported by a pair of adjacent legs of different frame members for securing said frame on a post adapted to be received between said pair of adjacent legs Aand for maintaining said frame members assembled; and attaching means at the divergent ends of said legs adapted for connection to articles to be supported.

3. Supporting apparatus for articles such as mailboxes or the like comprising a pair of members each bent intermediate its ends to form a V, said members beingarranged apex to apex; means interconnecting both of said members so as to form a frame having four legs diverging from substantially a common point; means supported by a pair of adjacent legs and adapted to be connected to a post; and attaching means at the divergent` end of each of said legs adapted for connection to articles to 4be supported;

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the means supported by said pair of adjacent legs comprises screw fasteners.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein the means supported by said pair of adjacent legs comprisesl a clamp element.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said members is provided with cooperating hinge elements interconnected by said interconnecting means.

7. Supporting apparatus for articles such as mailboxes or the like comprising a pair of V-shaped members each including a pair of legs' diverging from an apex; means hingedly connecting said members one to another attheir apices for relative movement; means'carried byone leg of one of said members and the adjacent leg of the other of-saidV members for mounting said pair of members'- on a post adapted to be received between said one leg and said adjacent leg; and means carried by said members for securing an article thereto. Y

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said. mounting means comprises loop means connected to said one leg and to said adjacent leg, andy anchoring means supported by'said loop means for securingl said members on said post.

9. Apparatus asset forth in claim 7 wherein vthe apices of said members are formed as piano-type hinge elements.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,238,976 zika sept'. 4,1917 `2,738,941 Launch -Mar". 2o; 11956 2,899,764 Oberlin Augi 1831959 2,907,544' Harling Oct. 6i 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS'v 423,146 Great Britain Ian. 25, 1925 w,... "Mt, 

